KILLER HEELS

ere are very few high-heel lovers who haven’t uttered the words “my feet are killing me” at the end of a night on the tiles. So how can we achieve the look, still wear our dream shoes, and avoid walking home in stocking feet? We’ve all experienced the discomfort and burning sensation associated with wearing party shoes. But despite the pain, we still persevere.

Gloria Dunlop, lecturer in podiatry at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Tips To Keep Your Feet Tip Top

So, how can we keep dancing into the wee small hours and still avoid falling o our platform shoes and spraining our ankles? Dunlop has some top tips for keeping our toes in good shape.

1. Don’t wear the same shoes repeatedly Have a selection of shoes of di erent shapes, di erent heel heights and de nitely a pair of trainers in your wardrobe. 2. Cheap shoes don’t necessarily mean bad shoes ere is nothing wrong with wearing a less expensive shoe. Expensive shoes are not a guarantee of problem-free feet.

3. Change your shoes daily Sometimes we wear shoes that cramp our toes because they’re too tight. Continually wearing high heels can result in painful leg muscles. Changing your shoes daily will prevent a foot or leg problem occurring.

4. Avoid wearing sling backs on a regular basis Repeatedly wearing sling backs can quickly lead to the development of a large hard bump at the back of the heel, commonly known as a Haglund’s bump. is is irreversible, so avoid at all costs. It becomes very di cult to wear any closed-in shoe once you have developed a Haglund’s bump.

5. Wear padding on the balls of your feet if partying in high heels Use foot felts and foams. Foot specialist Scholl provides a range, including ball-of-foot cushions and pressure-point foam padding that can be bought in most supermarkets and chemists. ese products have an adhesive backing that sticks to your feet, avoiding slippage and therefore blisters.

6. Never burst a blister Not unless you want sore feet for days. Blisters are created by rubbing, so avoid shoes that rub.

7. Never wear brand new shoes for a long period of time Initially wear your new shoes around the house or in short bursts. Don’t wear brand new shoes on your party night or you will su er.

8. Avoid sprains and strains Sprains, strains, and muscle soreness can happen to anyone, but are more likely if you are walking on an uneven surface or a very high narrow heel. Avoid cobbled streets and best get a taxi home a er the party.

9. Use ice on painful sprains and strains Ice does work - it reduces swelling. If you su er a sprain or strain, use ice as soon as possible or within the rst four hours. A er that, use heat to reduce bruising, swelling and pain. Next time you decide to party on a weeknight and have to haul yourself into the o ce the next morning, follow Gloria’s advice and you’ll glide elegantly into work ready to face another day’s hard slog - no crutches necessary.